Another Cross-Country Adventure: A Prelude to Day 1

California to Massachusetts – six days, a dozen states – what a crazy adventure.

But it was one I was going on…again.

So, it didn’t feel as crazy or surreal as it did the first time.

However, if you were to ask me what I was thinking during that time, I’d say that I don’t remember. There were so many things happening simultaneously it was almost as if I was on autopilot. At the time, all I knew was that there was packing to be done in preparation for the move.

During the moments I had to myself, which were few, I thought about the ocean. I thought about how much I was going to miss it. At night, when the world was quiet, I could hear the ocean whispering and when she was worked up, I could hear her heavy, rhythmic breathing. When the call to see her was too much, I could take an easy 10 minute walk (pass an old cemetery where the deer and geese always stayed and a beautiful little lighthouse).

I thought about how much I was going to miss the ocean and her rhythmic dance, the waves tossing and churning and rushing towards the coast. There were days I’d walk there, stand on her shore, and simply watch the ocean, slip into that blue space where the mind thinks of nothing and you just are – you and the ocean.

There was a spot I loved to sit, high up on the rocks, so I’d deviate from the path and climb up to my perch. From there I could look out over the ocean, see all the seagulls and pelicans soar over the water, watch the sea otters surf the waves, notice a seal or two pop their heads up for air, and watch the sun glitter off the ocean like a million tiny diamonds churning in the waves.

I thought about the ocean’s children – seals, sea lions, sea otters, whales, egrets, herons, and all the different types of birds, even the sea creatures I never saw who lived deep below the surface.

And when our last night there finally arrived, we went down to the beach with a couple of chairs and watched the sun set. It was one of the most gorgeous sunsets I’ve ever seen. The sky was a mix of soft blues and purples and pinks with brilliant oranges and golden yellows. I never wanted to leave, but leaving was inevitable. So, as we left the beach that night, I felt as if I left a part of myself there, as a part of myself is scattered on the sands of every beach that touches the ocean.

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